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( odel.)

J. H. HN'SON. R IIIIII T.

10.589.175 Patented Aug. 31,1897.

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' UNITED' STATES PATENT GFFICH;

JOHN H. JOHNSON, or ALLEN'rOwN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR Or 'rwo- THIRDS To SILAS A. LENTZ AND A. n. HENSINGEH, or SAME PLACE.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION-forming part of Letters Patent No; 589,175, dated August 31, 1897.

Application iiled March 1J?, 1897-I that when there is a downward yielding of the end of a rail at a joint at the time of the passage of a wheel the end of the adjacent rail of the joint is soon battered and in a short time an objectionable depression is formed Yand the fish-plates and bolts become loosened.

By my invention these and other well-known defects are overcome, as I secure `a rigidity at the joint which prevents individual move# ment of the rails at the joint, and this by means which at the same time exert a conv stant spring-pressure against Vthe heads and nuts of the bolts employed'in the joint, so that no loosening of them occurs and extraneous or separate nut-locking devices are not required. f 4, y

My invention consists in the devices hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents in perspective a rail-joint constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a section of the same, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Like letters indicate like parts in both figures of the drawings.

A A represent end portions of rails abutting each other and connected with is'hplates B B and bolts C, provided with ordinary nuts o. Each of the fish-plates B comprises a body portion which spans the joint in the usual manner, but which is Oi' such a width as to very nearly extend from the top of the base to the under surface of the tread of the rail, and which is also slightly thicker at its upper and lower edges or concave on its inner surface, in either case leaving a vacant space between said face and the rail, so that in tightening the bolts C the iish-plates,

Serial No. 627,966. (No model.)

one or both of them, is or are drawn from its or their normall position, (shown by dotted lines, Fig. 2,) tocontact iirmly with the flangebase and tread of the rail at both sides of the joint.

. The construction and operation of the parts thus far described'aresuch that there is a yielding or spring pressure against the heads and particularly against the nuts c/ of the bolts C, that the nuts will not become loose, and thus the necessity of employing eXtra means for locking the nuts is avoided.

Each of the fish-plates is provided with a laterally and downwardly projecting loop B', comprising arms b and a depending arm-connecting portion b. The arms b are placed 'one upon each side of the joint and are shaped and proportioned to nearly or loosely rest upon the rail-base when the lish-plates are vnot Vunder the strain of the bolts, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. This being the normal condition of the arms, they assume when the bolts are tightened a rm bearing uponthe rail-baseand thus serve to intensify and maintain the spring vn lit-looking function of the fish-plates B.

The arms b are united at their Outer ends by a depending portion b', which extends below the rail-base suflioiently to receive, support, and retain a cross-bar D, having a recess d in its upperface' to lreceive the bases of the rails, while the end walls d2 ot said recess retain the edges of the rail-bases at the joint in line with each other. The cross-bar D is also provided with shoulders cl3, which embrace the outer faces of the loops b' of the fish-plate arms, so that when the bolts are tightened all parts are drawn firmly together and the required rigidity of the joint is sei cured.

It will be noted that the portions D of' the loops exert a lifting yfunction as the lishplates are drawn firmly'toplace', and thus the cross-bar is brought firmly against the lower surface of each rail, while the shoulders di prevent lateral movement of the cross-bar and ofq the loops b. By providing the crossbar with upper and lower recesses, one for lthe rail-base and the other for the loops, itis retained in place without the use of extraneous securing devices.

IOO

The construction of the entire appendage of my rail-joint is exceedingly simple, but two pieces besides the bolts being requiredto Wit, a fish-plate havinga loop and a erossbar having upper and lower recesses-and these are capable of assemblage Without the use of any special tool. They may be made of cast, or rolled, punched, and shaped material. The crossbar D is especially adapted to be made by the rolling process in a continuous strip, which, severed crossWise, produces individual cross-bars. The {ishplates having loops integral therewith may also be rolled in continuous strips, which may be severed crosswise, punched, and bent to the shape of individual plates. These features render the simplicity and minimum of cost of manufacture prominent points of advantage in addition to the readiness of application to use and firmness of construction 2o when in use.

Vhat I claim is- In a rail-joint, fish-plates adapted to bear at their top and bottom edges against the under surface of the rail-tread and the upper surface of a rail-base and yieldingly at their central portions, a securingnut to Compress said plates, vertically-depending loops from said fish-plates at the sides thereof, and an independent cross-bar having a recess for the rail-base and shoulders for the loops of the {ish-plates, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aflx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN II. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

J. E. JOHNSON, J. H. VON NIEDA. 

